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To enhance the effectiveness of the Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) detection process, this research proposes a new approach to build and analyze the behavior profiles of APT attacks in network traffic. To achieve this goal, this study carries out two main objectives, including (i) building the behavior profile of APT IP in network traffic using a new intelligent computation method; (ii) analyzing and evaluating the behavior profile of APT IP based on a deep graph network. Specifically, to build the behavior profile of APT IP, this article describes using a combination of two different data mining methods: Bidirectional Long Short-Term Memory (Bi) and Attention (A). Based on the obtained behavior profile, the Dynamic Graph Convolutional Neural Network (DGCNN) is proposed to extract the characteristics of APT IP and classify them. With the flexible combination of different components in the model, the important information and behavior of APT attacks are demonstrated, not only enhancing the accuracy of detecting attack campaigns but also reducing false predictions. The experimental results in the paper show that the method proposed in this study has brought better results than other approaches on all measurements. In particular, the accuracy of APT attack prediction results (Precision) reached from 84 to 91%, higher than other studies of over 7%. These experimental results have proven that the proposed BiADG model for detecting APT attacks in this study is proper and reasonable. In addition, those experimental results have not only proven the effectiveness and superiority of the proposed method in detecting APT attacks but have also opened up a new approach for other cyber-attack detections such as distributed denial of service, botnets, malware, phishing, etc., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Although the use of the tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) has been proved that it can save live in a cancer treatment, the currently used drugs bring in many undesirable side-effects. Therefore, the search for new drugs and an evaluation of their efficiency are intensively carried out. Recently, a series of eighteen imidazole[1,5-a]pyridine derivatives were synthetized by us, and preliminary analyses pointed out their potential to be an important platform for pharmaceutical development owing to their promising actions as anticancer agents and enzyme (kinase, HIV-protease,…) inhibitors. In the present theoretical study, we further analyzed their efficiency in using a realistic scenario of computational drug design. Our protocol has been developed to not only observe the atomistic interaction between the EGFR protein and our 18 novel compounds using both umbrella sampling and steered molecular dynamics simulations, but also determine their absolute binding free energies. Calculated properties of the 18 novel compounds were in detail compared with those of two known drugs, erlotinib and osimertinib, currently used in cancer treatment. Inspiringly the simulation results promote three imidazole[1,5-a]pyridine derivatives as promising inhibitors into a further step of clinical trials., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Hyperspectral imaging has gained popularity for analysing remotely sensed images in various fields such as agriculture and medical. However, existing models face challenges in dealing with the complex relationships and characteristics of spectral-spatial data due to the multi-band nature and data redundancy of hyperspectral data. To address this limitation, we propose a novel approach called DiffSpectralNet, which combines diffusion and transformer techniques. The diffusion method is able extract diverse and meaningful spectral-spatial features, leading to improvement in HSI classification. Our approach involves training an unsupervised learning framework based on the diffusion model to extract high-level and low-level spectral-spatial features, followed by the extraction of intermediate hierarchical features from different timestamps for classification using a pre-trained denoising U-Net. Finally, we employ a supervised transformer-based classifier to perform the HSI classification. We conduct comprehensive experiments on three publicly available datasets to validate our approach. The results demonstrate that our framework significantly outperforms existing approaches, achieving state-of-the-art performance. The stability and reliability of our approach are demonstrated across various classes in all datasets., (© 2024. Crown.)

Various guidelines recommend the first follow-up cystoscopy at 3 months; however, no data exist on the optimal timing for initial follow-up cystoscopy. We tried to provide evidence on the timing of the first cystoscopy after the initial transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TUR-BT) for patients with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) using big data. This was a retrospective National Health Insurance Service database analysis. The following outcomes were considered: recurrence, progression, cancer-specific mortality, and all-cause mortality. Exposure was the time-to-treatment initiation (TTI), a continuous variable representing the time to the first cystoscopy from the first TUR-BT within 1 year. Additionally, we categorized TTI (TTIc) into five levels: < 2, 2-4, 4-6, 6-8, and 8-12 months. A landmark time of 1 year after the initial TUR-BT was described to address immortal-time bias. We identified the optimal time for the first cystoscopy using Cox regression models with and without restricted cubic splines (RCS) for TTI and TTIc, respectively. Among 26,660 patients, 16,880 (63.3%) underwent cystoscopy within 2-4 months. A U-shaped trend of the lowest risks at TTI was observed in the 2-4 months group for progression, cancer-specific mortality, and all-cause mortality. TTI within 0-2 months had a higher risk of progression (aHR 1.36; 95% confidence intervals [CI] 1.15-1.60; p < 0.001) and cancer-specific mortality (aHR 1.29; 95% CI 1.05-1.58; p = 0.010). Similarly, TTI within 8-12 months had a higher risk of progression (aHR 2.09; 95% CI 1.67-2.63; p < 0.001) and cancer-specific mortality (aHR 1.96; 95% CI 1.48-2.60; p < 0.001). Based on the RCS models, the risks of progression, cancer-specific mortality, and all-cause mortality were lowest at TTI of 4 months. The timing of the first cystoscopy follow-up was associated with oncologic prognosis. In our model, undergoing cystoscopy at 4 months has shown the best outcomes in clinical course. Therefore, patients who do not receive cystoscopy at approximately 4 months for any reason need more careful follow-up to predict a poor clinical course., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Citrus fruit yield is essential for market stability, as it allows businesses to plan for production and distribution. However, yield estimation is a complex and time-consuming process that often requires a large number of field samples to ensure representativeness. To address this challenge, we investigated the optimal altitude for unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) imaging to estimate the yield of Citrus unshiu fruit. We captured images from five different altitudes (30 m, 50 m, 70 m, 90 m, and 110 m), and determined that a resolution of approximately 5 pixels/cm is necessary for reliable estimation of fruit size based on the average diameter of C. unshiu fruit (46.7 mm). Additionally, we found that histogram equalization of the images improved fruit count estimation compared to using untreated images. At the images from 30 m height, the normal image estimates fruit numbers as 73, 55, and 88. However, the histogram equalized image estimates 88, 71, 105. The actual number of fruits is 124, 88, and 141. Using a Vegetation Index such as I PCA showed a similar estimation value to histogram equalization, but I 1 estimation represents a gap to actual yields. Our results provide a valuable database for future UAV field investigations of citrus fruit yield. Using flying platforms like UAVs can provide a step towards adopting this sort of model spanning ever greater regions at a cheap cost, with this system generating accurate results in this manner., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Sarcopenia, a condition characterized by muscle mass decline, is one of the leading health problems in the elderly. This study determined the rate of sarcopenia according to criteria by Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS) and related factors in elderly people. A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in 632 people aged 60 years or over in Ho Chi Minh City. Data were collected through a predefined questionnaire and direct measurement. Sarcopenia was identified based on the Inbody 770 machine and AWGS criteria. The prevalence of sarcopenia was 32.0%. Participants with advanced age, low education, unemployment, low level of family economics and frailty were more likely to have sarcopenia. Among these, frailty had the highest impact on sarcopenia, with significantly higher odds of having sarcopenia found in participants with pre-frailty (OR = 4.80, 95% CI 2.75-8.38, p < 0.001) and frailty (OR = 21.16, 95% CI 8.96-49.97, p < 0.001). In contrast, BMI was inversely associated with sarcopenia. Sarcopenia is prevalent in the Vietnamese elderly. Apart from social demographic characteristics including age, education, employment and family economic status, frailty appeared to be an important risk factor. Early screening, referral, and treatment of sarcopenia among the elderly having a high risk of sarcopenia are recommended., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Cultivation of Cordyceps militaris, a valuable medicinal and edible fungus, has dramatically increased in Vietnam since 2010. During industrial production, parasitic white molds were found to infect the mycelia and fruiting bodies of C. militaris causing significant quality and yield losses. Two different fungal strains were obtained from the mycelia and fruiting bodies of C. militaris in Danang mushroom farms and were characterized by morphological and multiple DNA markers analysis. The sequence alignment of ITS, LSU and rpb2 markers revealed that the pathogens are related to the type species Lecanicillium coprophilum and Calcarisporium cordycipiticola with more than 99% sequence identities. The growth characteristics and pathogenic activities of the two isolated species on their host C. militaris were also investigated. The phylogenetic analysis based on the ITS sequences showed that L. coprophilum WF2611 is closer to its host C. militaris than C. cordycipiticola NT1504. To our knowledge, this is the first worldwide report of C. militaris infected by L. coprophilum which would be an useful information on prevention and control of the disease and be helpful for the industrial cultivation of C. militaris., (© 2023. Springer Nature Limited.)

Influenza virus is a main cause of acute respiratory tract infections (ARTIs) in children. This is the first double-blind, randomized, and controlled clinical trial examining the efficacy of nasal-spraying probiotic LiveSpo Navax, which contains 5 billion of Bacillus subtilis and B. clausii spores in 5 mL, in supporting treatment of influenza viral infection in pediatric patients. We found that the nasal-spraying Bacillus spores significantly shortened the recovery period and overall treatment by 2 days and increased treatment effectiveness by 58% in resolving all ARTIs' symptoms. At day 2, the concentrations of influenza virus and co-infected bacteria were reduced by 417 and 1152 folds. Additionally, the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-8, TNF-α, and IL-6 in nasopharyngeal samples were reduced by 1.1, 3.7, and 53.9 folds, respectively. Compared to the standard control group, treatment regimen with LiveSpo Navax demonstrated significantly greater effectiveness, resulting in 26-fold reduction in viral load, 65-fold reduction in bacterial concentration, and 1.1-9.5-fold decrease in cytokine levels. Overall, nasal-spraying Bacillus spores can support the symptomatic treatment of influenza virus-induced ARTIs quickly, efficiently and could be used as a cost-effective supportive treatment for respiratory viral infection in general.Clinical trial registration no: NCT05378022 on 17/05/2022., (© 2023. Springer Nature Limited.)

Zoysia grass (Zoysia spp.) is the most widely used warm-season turf grass in Korea due to its durability and resistance to environmental stresses. To develop new longer-period greenness cultivars, it is essential to screen germplasm which maintains the greenness at a lower temperature. Conventional methods are time-consuming, laborious, and subjective. Therefore, in this study, we demonstrate an objective and efficient method to screen maintaining longer greenness germplasm using RGB and multispectral images. From August to December, time-series data were acquired and we calculated green cover percentage (GCP), Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Normalized Difference Red Edge Index (NDRE), Soil-adjusted Vegetation Index (SAVI), and Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI) values of germplasm from RGB and multispectral images by applying vegetation indexs. The result showed significant differences in GCP, NDVI, NDRE, SAVI, and EVI among germplasm (p < 0.05). The GCP, which evaluated the quantity of greenness by counting pixels of the green area from RGB images, exhibited maintenance of greenness over 90% for August and September but, sharply decrease from October. The study found significant differences in GCP and NDVI among germplasm. san208 exhibiting over 90% GCP and high NDVI values during 153 days. In addition, we also conducted assessments using various vegetation indexes, namely NDRE, SAVI, and EVI. san208 exhibited NDRE levels exceeding 3% throughout this period. As for SAVI, it initially started at approximately 38% and gradually decreased to around 4% over the course of these days. Furthermore, for the month of August, it recorded approximately 6%, but experienced a decline from about 9% to 1% between September and October. The complementary use of both indicators could be an efficient method for objectively assessing the greenness of turf both quantitatively and qualitatively., (© 2023. Springer Nature Limited.)

Helicobacter pylori is involved in the etiology and severity of several gastroduodenal diseases; however, plasticity of the H. pylori genome makes complete genome assembly difficult. We report here the full genomes of H. pylori strains CHC155 and VN1291 isolated from a non-cardia gastric cancer patient and a duodenal ulcer patient, respectively, and their virulence demonstrated by in vitro infection. Whole-genome sequences were obtained by combining long- and short-reads with a hybrid-assembly approach. Both CHC155 and VN1291 genome possessed four kinds of genomic island: a cag pathogenicity island (cagPAI), two type 4 secretion system islands within an integrative and conjugative element (tfs ICE), and prophage. CHC155 and VN1291 carried East Asian-type cagA and vacA s1m1, and outer membrane protein genes, including two copies of oipA. Corresponded to genetic determinants of antibiotic resistance, chromosomal mutations were identified in CHC155 (rdxA, gyrA, and 23S rRNA) and VN1291 (rdxA, 23S rRNA, and pbp1A). In vitro infection of AGS cells by both strains induced the cell scattering phenotype, tyrosine phosphorylation of CagA, and promoted high levels of IL8 secretion, indicating fully intact phenotypes of the cagPAI. Virulence genes in CHC155 and VN1291 genomes are crucial for H. pylori pathogenesis and are risk factors in the development of gastric cancer and duodenal ulcer. Our in vitro studies indicate that the strains CHC155 and VN1291 carry the pathogenic potential., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

This study assessed the trends in methotrexate, vinblastine, doxorubicin, and cisplatin (MVAC) and gemcitabine-cisplatin (GC) regimens in Korean patients with metastatic urothelial carcinoma (UC) and compared the side effects and overall survival (OS) rates of the two regimens using nationwide population-based data. The data of patients diagnosed with UC between 2004 and 2016 were collected using the National Health Insurance Service database. The overall treatment trends were assessed according to the chemotherapy regimens. The MVAC and GC groups were matched by propensity scores. Cox proportional hazard analysis and Kaplan-Meier analysis were performed to assess survival. Of 3108 patients with UC, 2,880 patients were treated with GC and 228 (7.3%) were treated with MVAC. The transfusion rate and volume were similar in both the groups, but the granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) usage rate and number were higher in the MVAC group than in the GC group. Both groups had similar OS. Multivariate analysis revealed that the chemotherapy regimen was not a significant factor for OS. Subgroup analysis revealed that a period of ≥ 3 months from diagnosis to systemic therapy enhanced the prognostic effects of the GC regimen. The GC regimen was widely used as the first-line chemotherapy in more than 90% of our study population with metastatic UC. The MVAC regimen showed similar OS to the GC regimen but needed greater use of G-CSF. The GC regimen could be a suitable treatment option for metastatic UC after ≥ 3 months from diagnosis., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

The Mekong River Delta (MRD) is an essential agricultural area for the worldwide rice supply. Floods and droughts triggered by El Niño southern oscillation (ENSO) have been threatening sustenance in the MRD. Sustainable food supplies require understanding the response of the MRD hydrology to the changing ENSO behaviour in recent decades. Here, we reconstructed the annual rainfall maxima in the MRD using the oceanic paleoclimate proxy from coral skeletons and compared them with ENSO indexes. Annual minima of coral-based seawater oxygen isotope (δ 18 O sw ) correlated with annual rainfall maxima, which allowed to extend rainfall data from 1924 to the recent. The annual rainfall maxima based on δ 18 O sw negatively correlated with the central Pacific El Niño index. This suggested that La Niña and central Pacific El Niño events lead to heavy and light rainy seasons. The heavy rainy season had more serious impacts in recent decades, which likely increases the flood risk. In contrast, the frequency and rainfall amount of the light rainy season has not changed significantly, although a catastrophic drought has hit the MRD. Our finding concludes that the impact of the ENSO event on MRD hydrology is inconsistent in the past century., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

α-Thalassemia is a common inherited blood disorder manifested mainly by the deletions of α-globin genes. In geographical areas with high carrier frequencies, screening of α-thalassemia carrier state is therefore of vital importance. This study presents a novel method for identifying female carriers of common α-thalassemia deletions using samples routinely taken for non-invasive prenatal tests for screening of fetal chromosomal aneuploidies. A total of 68,885 Vietnamese pregnant women were recruited and α-thalassemia statuses were determined by gap-PCR, revealing 5344 women (7.76%) carried deletions including αα/-- SEA (4.066%), αα/-α 3.7 (2.934%), αα/-α 4.2 (0.656%), and rare genotypes (0.102%). A two-stage model was built to predict these α-thalassemia deletions from targeted sequencing of the HBA gene cluster on maternal cfDNA. Our method achieved F1-scores of 97.14-99.55% for detecting the three common genotypes and 94.74% for detecting rare genotypes (-α 3.7 /-α 4.2 , αα/-- THAI , -α 3.7 /-- SEA , -α 4.2 /-- SEA ). Additionally, the positive predictive values were 100.00% for αα/αα, 99.29% for αα/-- SEA , 94.87% for αα/-α 3.7 , and 96.51% for αα/-α 4.2 ; and the negative predictive values were 97.63%, 99.99%, 99.99%, and 100.00%, respectively. As NIPT is increasingly adopted for pregnant women, utilizing cfDNA from NIPT to detect maternal carriers of common α-thalassemia deletions will be cost-effective and expand the benefits of NIPT., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a leading cause of Acute Respiratory Tract Infections (ARTIs) in young children. However, there is currently no vaccine or treatment available for children. Here, we demonstrated that nasal-spraying probiotics containing 5 billion of Bacillus spores (LiveSpo Navax) is an effective symptomatic treatment in a 6-day randomized controlled clinical study for RSV-infected children (n = 40-46/group). Navax treatment resulted in 1-day faster recovery-time and 10-50% better efficacy in relieving ARTI symptoms. At day 3, RSV load and level of pro-inflammatory cytokines in nasopharyngeal samples was reduced by 630 folds and 2.7-12.7 folds respectively. This showed 53-fold and 1.8-3.6-fold more effective than those in the control-standard of care-group. In summary, nasal-spraying Bacillus spores can rapidly and effectively relieve symptoms of RSV-induced ARTIs while exhibit strong impacts in reducing viral load and inflammation. Our nasal-spraying probiotics may provide a basis for simple-to-use, low-cost, and effective treatment against viral infection in general., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Background: Diabetic eye screening programmes have been developed worldwide based on evidence that early detection and treatment of diabetic retinopathy are crucial to preventing sight loss. However, little is known about the decision-making processes and training needs of diabetic retinal graders, particularly in low- and middle-income countries., Objectives: To provide data for improving evidence-based diabetic retinopathy training to help novice graders process fundus images more like experts., Subjects/methods: This is a mixed-methods qualitative study conducted in southern Vietnam and Northern Ireland. Novice diabetic retinal graders in Vietnam (n = 18) and expert graders in Northern Ireland (n = 5) were selected through a purposive sampling technique. Data were collected from 21st February to 3rd September 2019. The interviewer used neutral prompts during think-aloud sessions to encourage participants to verbalise their thought processes while grading fundus images from anonymised patients, followed by semi-structured interviews. Thematic framework analysis was used to identify themes, supported by illustrative quotes from interviews. Mann-Whitney U tests were used to compare graders' performance., Results: Expert graders used a more systematic approach when grading images, considered all four images per patient and used available software tools such as red-free filters prior to making a decision on management. The most challenging features for novice graders were intra-retinal microvascular abnormalities and new vessels, which were more accurately identified by experts., Conclusion: Taking more time to grade fundus images and adopting a protocol-driven "checklist" approach may help novice graders to function more like experts., (© 2021. The Author(s).)

Determining the prevalence and characteristics of individuals susceptible to present with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is essential for developing targeted and efficient prevention and screening strategies. We included 27,210 participants aged ≥45 years old (50.3% women) from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging. Using the STOP questionnaire combined to the percentage of body fat (%BF), we estimated the prevalence of individuals at high-risk for OSA in a sex and age-specific manner, and tested the relation with comorbidities, menopause and systemic inflammation. The prevalence was 17.5%, and was lower in women (13.1%) than in men (21.9%). A high level of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein was the strongest factor associated with OSA risk and this association was 1.3-2.3 times higher in women than in men. OSA risk increased with age, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes mellitus, anxio-depressive symptoms, asthma and arthritis. In women, post-menopausal status was associated with a high OSA risk. Nearly 1 adult out of 5 older than 45 is at risk for OSA in Canada. Comorbidities, menopause and systemic inflammation, more than age, explain increased OSA prevalence. Considering this high prevalence and associations with medical and mental comorbidities, health care practitioners should incorporate systematic OSA screening in their clinical procedures., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

This study reports for the first time on the synthesis of novel resin@P-Ag 2 O material and its application for reducing the chloride effect on COD determination of high salinity water. This engineered core-shell nanomaterial with cationic ion exchange resin core and porous Ag 2 O shell was prepared by facile ion exchange and silver oxidation method at ambient temperature without using toxic chemicals. The material was characterized by FTIR, XRD, SEM, and SEM-EDX mapping. In the chloride removal test, this material gave a high adsorption capacity of ca. 244 mgCl/gAg at the mild condition with high durability after several adsorption-desorption cycles. Moreover, resin@P-Ag 2 O was applied for removing chloride in water to improve the accuracy of the SMEWW 5220C:2012 method for COD determination of high salinity water. The result showed that the COD of a water sample with salt content after being treated by the material had a low error (≤ 10%) as compared to the sample without salt. Meanwhile, the COD of salty water measured by the dilution method had an error of around 15%. These results indicate that resin@P-Ag 2 O material has a very potential application for chloride removal and COD determination of high salinity water.

Background: To compare functional staging classifications in Vietnamese patients with primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) and chronic primary angle closure glaucoma (PACG)., Methods: A retrospective cross-section study was conducted at a national setting. Two hundred seven eyes of 207 patients were recruited. Patients were tested with standard automated perimetry. Field loss was generally classified in four stages (normal, early, moderate, and severe), using four classification strategies: (1) Hodapp-Parrish-Anderson (HPA), (2) enhanced Glaucoma Staging System (eGSS), (3) modified Glaucoma Staging System (mGSS) and (4) the Advanced Glaucoma Intervention Study (AGIS). AGIS as a standard method was used to judge the staging performance of the other three classifications in terms of agreement (Cohen Kappa-K) and association (Chi-Square Test-Cramer's V)., Results: The agreement between AGIS and mGSS (K = 0.687; p < 0.001) and HPA (K = 0.686; p < 0.001) was substantial while that between AGIS and eGSS was slight (K = 0.103; p < 0.001). The association between AGIS and mGSS (V = 0.748; p < 0.001) and HPA (V = 0.748; p < 0.001) was greater than eGSS (V = 0.594; p < 0.001)., Conclusions: MGSS and HPA showed stronger agreement and closer association with AGIS than eGSS. We recommend mGSS should be used in managing a glaucoma clinic because of its simplicity and convenience over HPA and AGIS.

Although the type 4 secretion system of the integrating and conjugative elements (tfs ICE) is common in Helicobacter pylori, its clinical association with the cag pathogenicity island (cagPAI) have not yet been well-investigated. In this study, Vietnamese patient H. pylori samples (46 duodenal ulcer (DU), 51 non-cardia gastric cancer (NCGC), 39 chronic gastritis (CG)) were fully sequenced using next-generation sequencing and assembled into contigs. tfs3, tfs4, and cagPAI genes were compared with the public database. Most (94%) H. pylori strains possessed a complete cagPAI, which was the greatest risk factor for clinical outcomes, while the prevalences of tfs3 and tfs4 were 45% and 77%, respectively. Complete tfs3 and tfs4 were found in 18.3% and 17.6% of strains, respectively. The prevalence of H. pylori strains with complete tfs3 ICE in DU patients was significantly higher than that in NCGC patients (30.4% vs 11.7%, P < 0.05). In addition, the prevalence of strains with complete tfs3 ICE and cagPAI was significantly higher in DU patients than that in NCGC (28.4% vs 9.8%, P = 0.038) and CG patients (28.2% vs 7.7%, P = 0.024). cagPAI and complete tfs3 increased the risk of DU compared to NCGC (OR = 3.56, 95%CI: 1.1-14.1, P = 0.038) and CG (OR = 4.64, 95%CI: 1.1-27.6, P = 0.024). A complete cluster of tfs3 ICE was associated with gastroduodenal diseases in Vietnam. However, there was a low prevalence of the dupA/complete dupA cluster (15.4%) in the Vietnam strains. The prevalence of cagPAI in Vietnam strains was significantly higher than in US (P = 0.01) and Indonesia (P < 0.0001); the prevalence of the dupA cluster was also higher in the Vietnam strains than in the Indonesian strains (P < 0.05). In addition, the prevalence of ctkA, an accessory gene of tfs3, was significantly different between Vietnam and US strains (28% vs 2%, P = 0.0002). In summary, the acquisition of tfs3/4 ICE was common in H. pylori strains in patients with gastroduodenal disease in Vietnam, and the complete cluster of tfs3 ICE was a reliable marker for the severity of disease in the H. pylori infected population.

Background: To investigate the relationship between unexplained indirect hyperbilirubinemia of Vietnamese newborns and the polymorphism of the promoter TATA box and exon 1 of bilirubin uridine diphosphate glucuronosyltransferase (UGT1A1) gene., Methods: A total of 149 neonates were divided into the hyperbilirubinemia group (n = 99) and control group (n = 50). The gene polymorphisms of UGT1A1 gene in the two groups were detected by PCR and direct sequencing, which revealed the relationship between UGT1A1 polymorphism with neonatal hyperbilirubinemia of neonates. The types of UGT1A1 polymorphism in the hyperbilirubinemia group and the peak total serum bilirubin (PSB) levels with different genotypes were observed., Results: (1) (TA)7 insertion mutation, 211G>A, 189C>T, 190G>A, 378C>T and 686C>A were detected. (2) The allele frequency of 211G>A allele mutation was significantly different between the two groups (p < 0.05). (3) Logistic regression analysis showed that homozygosity and heterozygosity of 211G>A were both significantly associated with neonatal hyperbilirubinemia. (4) In the hyperbilirubinemia group, the peak total serum bilirubin level of 211G>A homozygous neonates was higher than that of the wild-type neonates (p < 0.05)., Conclusions: We noted that there was an association between neonates with unexplained indirect hyperbilirubinemia in Vietnam and the polymorphism of UGT1A1c.211G>A. In addition, the homozygous 211G>A polymorphism was related to the degree of hyperbilirubinemia., Impact: Our article provided data on UGT1A1 polymorphism distribution in the Vietnamese population, which have not been reported yet. Our findings revealed that mutations in UGT1A1 gene are risk factors for unexplained hyperbilirubinemia in Vietnamese neonates. Our article will strengthen the cognition of neonatal jaundice at the genetic level in the pediatric field in Vietnam.

This paper presents information on the gross alpha and gross beta activity concentrations of two hundred twenty-six groundwater samples collected by gas flow proportional counters in southern Vietnam. The gross alpha results in the water samples ranged from 0.024 to 0.748 Bq L -1 with a mean of 0.183 ± 0.034 Bq L -1 , and the gross beta results in the water samples ranged from 0.027-0.632 Bq L -1 with a mean of 0.152 ± 0.015 Bq L -1 . The values obtained in this work were compared with those previously published for various regions or countries. Next, untreated and treated groundwater samples were analyzed to assess their influences on the treatment process. The results showed that there were differences in the minimum detection concentrations and the mean activity values between the untreated and treated groundwater samples (The p-value of the mean comparison tests is significant with p < 0.05). In both sample groups, there was a strong positive correlation of the gross alpha versus the gross beta results (r > 0.6). This means that among the radionuclides, the major sources of beta radiation are uranium and thorium decay series radionuclides. Finally, the annual effective dose for adults (>17 years) was calculated based on the assumption that major radionuclides have the highest effective dose conversion factors. In general, the results for Pb-210, Ra-226, and Ra-228 were observed to be lower than the recommended reference values established by the World Health Organization and the International Atomic Energy Agency, except for the value of Po-210.

In this work, two copper-based biometamaterials were engineered using leaves of water cabbage (Pistia stratiotes) and purple bauhinia (Phanera purpurea) as templates. The copper sputtering was implemented to produce a thin copper film on the surface of leaves. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images exhibited the root hair-like nanostructure of water cabbage leaf and single comb-like nanostructure of purple bauhinia leaf. In spite of copper coating, the leaf surfaces of water cabbage and purple bauhinia were black and exhibited excellent light absorption at visible and near infrarrred wavelengths. It was estimated that these two types of leaves could absorb roughly 90% of light. Finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) calculations predicted the low reflectance stemming from the leaf nanostructures and copper coating layer. Because of the low cost of copper as a coating metal and simple procedure, this can be a promising method for quick fabrication of a thin copper film on the leaf nanostructure for application in blackbody or as the light absorbers.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common type of dementia and also one of the leading causes of death worldwide. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear, and currently there is no drug treatment that can prevent or cure AD. Here, we have applied the advantages of using induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived neurons (iNs) from AD patients, which are able to offer human-specific drug responsiveness, in order to evaluate therapeutic candidates for AD. Using approach involving an inducible neurogenin-2 transgene, we have established a robust and reproducible protocol for differentiating human iPSCs into glutamatergic neurons. The AD-iN cultures that result have mature phenotypic and physiological properties, together with AD-like biochemical features that include extracellular β-amyloid (Aβ) accumulation and Tau protein phosphorylation. By screening using a gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) approach, Graptopetalum paraguayense (GP) has been identified as a potential therapeutic agent for AD from among a range of Chinese herbal medicines. We found that administration of a GP extract caused a significantly reduction in the AD-associated phenotypes of the iNs, including decreased levels of extracellular Aβ40 and Aβ42, as well as reduced Tau protein phosphorylation at positions Ser214 and Ser396. Additionally, the effect of GP was more prominent in AD-iNs compared to non-diseased controls. These findings provide valuable information that suggests moving extracts of GP toward drug development, either for treating AD or as a health supplement to prevent AD. Furthermore, our human iN-based platform promises to be a useful strategy when it is used for AD drug discovery.

Streptococcus pneumoniae is a polysaccharide-encapsulated bacterium. The capsule thickens during blood invasion compared with the thinner capsules observed in asymptomatic nasopharyngeal colonization. However, the underlying mechanism regulating differential CPS expression remains unclear. CPS synthesis requires energy that is supplied by ATP. Previously, we demonstrated a correlation between ATP levels and adenylate kinase in S. pneumoniae (SpAdK). A dose-dependent induction of SpAdK in serum was also reported. To meet medical needs, this study aimed to elucidate the role of SpAdK in the regulation of CPS production. CPS levels in S. pneumoniae type 2 (D39) increased proportionally with SpAdK levels, but they were not related to pneumococcal autolysis. Moreover, increased SpAdK levels resulted in increased total tyrosine kinase Cps2D levels and phosphorylated Cps2D, which is a regulator of CPS synthesis in the D39 strain. Our results also indicated that the SpAdK and Cps2D proteins interact in the presence of Mg-ATP. In addition, in silico analysis uncovered the mechanism behind this protein-protein interaction, suggesting that SpAdK binds with the Cps2D dimer. This established the importance of the ATP-binding domain of Cps2D. Taken together, the biophysical interaction between SpAdK and Cps2D plays an important role in enhancing Cps2D phosphorylation, which results in increased CPS synthesis.

The type VI secretion system (T6SS) is a multiprotein machine widespread in Gram-negative bacteria that delivers toxins into both eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells. The mechanism of action of the T6SS is comparable to that of contractile myophages. The T6SS builds a tail-like structure made of an inner tube wrapped by a sheath, assembled under an extended conformation. Contraction of the sheath propels the inner tube towards the target cell. The T6SS tail is assembled on a platform-the baseplate-which is functionally similar to bacteriophage baseplates. In addition, the baseplate docks the tail to a trans-envelope membrane complex that orients the tail towards the target. Here, we report the crystal structure of TssK, a central component of the T6SS baseplate. We show that TssK is composed of three domains, and establish the contribution of each domain to the interaction with TssK partners. Importantly, this study reveals that the N-terminal domain of TssK is structurally homologous to the shoulder domain of phage receptor-binding proteins, and the C-terminal domain binds the membrane complex. We propose that TssK has conserved the domain of attachment to the virion particle but has evolved the reception domain to use the T6SS membrane complex as receptor.

One of the most powerful attributes of proteins is their ability to bind to and modulate the chemistry of cofactors and prosthetic groups. Here, we demonstrated the ability of an artificial nucleic acid (an aptamer) to similarly control the functionality of a non-biological element. Specifically, we selected an RNA aptamer that binds tris(bipyridine) ruthenium (II), Ru(bpy) 3 2+ , an inorganic complex that has attracted intense interest due to its photoredox chemistry, including its ability to split water by visible light. We found that a newly discovered aptamer strongly and enantioselectively binds Λ-Ru(bpy) 3 2+ (K d  = 65 nM) and, in doing so, selectively suppresses deactivation via energy transfer, thereby elongating the lifetime of its photo-excited state by four-fold. The ability of the aptamer to enhance this important aspect of Ru(bpy) 3 2+ chemistry illustrates a broader point concerning the potential power of combining in vitro-created biomolecules with non-biological reactants to perform enhanced chemical reactions.

During infection and inflammation, dendritic cells (DC) provide priming signals for natural killer (NK) cells via mechanisms distinct from their antigen processing and presentation functions. The influence of DC on resting NK cells, i.e. at steady-state, is less well studied. We here demonstrate that as early as 1 day after DC depletion, NK cells in naïve mice downregulated the NKG2D receptor and showed decreased constitutive phosphorylation of AKT and mTOR. Subsequently, apoptotic NK cells appeared in the spleen concomitant with reduced NK cell numbers. At 4 days after the onset of DC depletion, increased NK cell proliferation was seen in the spleen resulting in an accumulation of Ly49 receptor-negative NK cells. In parallel, NK cell responsiveness to ITAM-mediated triggering and cytokine stimulation dropped across maturation stages, suggestive of a functional deficiency independent from the homeostatic effect. A role for IL-15 in maintaining NK cell function was supported by a gene signature analysis of NK cell from DC-depleted mice as well as by in vivo DC transfer experiments. We propose that DC, by means of IL-15 transpresentation, are required to maintain not only homeostasis, but also function, at steady-state. These processes appear to be regulated independently from each other.

Motor memory consolidation is characterized, in part, by a sleep-facilitated decrease in susceptibility to subsequent interfering experiences. Surprisingly, the cerebral substrates supporting this phenomenon have never been examined. We used fMRI to investigate the neural correlates of the influence of sleep on interference to motor memory consolidation. Healthy young adults were trained on a sequential motor task, and subsequently practiced a second competing sequence after an interval including diurnal sleep or wakefulness. Participants were then retested on the initial sequence 8 h and 24 h (including nocturnal sleep) after training. Results demonstrated that a post-training nap significantly protected memory against interference at 8 h and modulated the link between cerebral activity and behavior, such that a smaller post-interference decrease in cortico-striatal activity was associated with better performance. Interestingly, the protective effect of a nap was only transitory, as both groups performed similarly at 24 h. Activity in cortico-striatal areas that was disrupted during the day, presumably due to interference and accentuated in the absence of a nap, was restored overnight. Altogether, our findings offer the first evidence that cortico-striatal areas play a critical role in the transient sleep-facilitated reduction in motor memory vulnerability and in the overnight restoration of previously degraded memories.

Characterized by dream-enactment motor manifestations arising from rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD) is frequently encountered in Parkinson's disease (PD). Yet the specific neurostructural changes associated with RBD in PD patients remain to be revealed by neuroimaging. Here we identified such neurostructural alterations by comparing large samples of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans in 69 PD patients with probable RBD, 240 patients without RBD and 138 healthy controls, using deformation-based morphometry (p < 0.05 corrected for multiple comparisons). All data were extracted from the Parkinson's Progression Markers Initiative. PD patients with probable RBD showed smaller volumes than patients without RBD and than healthy controls in the pontomesencephalic tegmentum, medullary reticular formation, hypothalamus, thalamus, putamen, amygdala and anterior cingulate cortex. These results demonstrate that RBD is associated with a prominent loss of volume in the pontomesencephalic tegmentum, where cholinergic, GABAergic and glutamatergic neurons are located and implicated in the promotion of REM sleep and muscle atonia. It is additionally associated with more widespread atrophy in other subcortical and cortical regions whose loss also likely contributes to the altered regulation of sleep-wake states and motor activity underlying RBD in PD patients.

There has been continuous progress in the development for biomedical engineering systems of hybrid muscle generated by combining skeletal muscle and artificial structure. The main factor affecting the actuation performance of hybrid muscle relies on the compatibility between living cells and their muscle scaffolds during cell culture. Here, we developed a hybrid muscle powered by C2C12 skeletal muscle cells based on the functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) sheets coated with poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) to achieve biomimetic actuation. This hydrophilic hybrid muscle is physically durable in solution and responds to electric field stimulation with flexible movement. Furthermore, the biomimetic actuation when controlled by electric field stimulation results in movement similar to that of the hornworm by patterned cell culture method. The contraction and relaxation behavior of the PEDOT/MWCNT-based hybrid muscle is similar to that of the single myotube movement, but has faster relaxation kinetics because of the shape-maintenance properties of the freestanding PEDOT/MWCNT sheets in solution. Our development provides the potential possibility for substantial innovation in the next generation of cell-based biohybrid microsystems.

The [2+2]cycloaddition of chlorosulfonyl isocyanate to vinyl and (Z)-propenyl ethers derived from the 2-O-sulfonylated (R)- and (S)-1-(furyl-2')-1,2-ethanediols furnished the 4-alkoxy-azetidin-2-ones with a good to moderate stereoselectivity. The intramolecular alkylation of the beta-lactam nitrogen atom led to the corresponding 3-(furyl-2')- and 6-methyl-3-(furyl-2')-clavams. The transformation of the furyl residue into an alkoxycarbonyl group led to clavams related to the natural compounds. The synthesized clavams exhibited moderate inhibitory activities against DD-peptidase 64-575 and beta-lactamase (penase) as well as antifungal activities.

Double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) is produced during the replication cycle of most viruses and triggers antiviral immune responses through Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3). However, the molecular mechanisms and subcellular compartments associated with dsRNA-TLR3-mediated signaling are largely unknown. Here we show that c-Src tyrosine kinase is activated by dsRNA in human monocyte-derived dendritic cells, and is recruited to TLR3 in a dsRNA-dependent manner. DsRNA-induced activation of interferon-regulatory factor 3 and signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 was abolished in Src kinase-deficient cells, and restored by adding back c-Src, suggesting a central role of c-Src in antiviral immunity. We also provide evidence that TLR3 is localized in the endoplasmic reticulum of unstimulated cells, moves to dsRNA-containing endosomes in response to dsRNA, and colocalizes with c-Src on endosomes containing dsRNA in the lumen. These results provide novel insight into the molecular mechanisms of TLR3-mediated signaling, which may contribute to the understanding of innate immune responses during viral infections.